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Thread: why do cats run away?

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default why do cats run away?

    some of you may remember from last summer how my then-17-year-old orange tabby cat Nosey was a royal pain the ass from his excessive meowing and ability to crap on command.

    on the 14th of may he meowed too much, over and over again until my mom put him in the backyard under the assumption that he wouldn't be able to get out. up until last year he was an indoor/outdoor cat and when i moved, i decided to keep him indoors. he did not agree with this arrangement at all. Nosey meowed constantly, wanting to go outside. it was ear-splitting long, drawn-out meow repeated to anyone who was around. he wasn't satisfied with being able to explore the backyard and being taken on walks on a leash and harness...he wanted to go outside as he saw fit.

    so on the early morning of the 14th he escaped from the backyard. it's been over two weeks and i've posted "lost kitty" signs with a color picture of him all over the neighborhood, posted on craigslist, walked around to look for him, and checked the shelter three times already. i even went to my old condo today across the bay to see if he somehow went back there (we're talking about 50 miles away) because i've heard that cats will often return to their previous homes.

    no Nosey.

    he's pulled this bullshit on us before about 9 years ago when he was gone for 3 days. i'm starting to get worried because i've heard that when cats know they're going to die they will often take off so their owners don't have to bear the pain of seeing them die. Nosey seemed very healthy to me: he'd run around like a sprightly kitten and behave like one too. No health problems except for throwing up his food occasionally after a binge. i was even going to take him to the vet the next day but he escaped.

    kitty experts out there: why do you think he's run away? will he come back? *cries*
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    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    aww, that stinks. Come home Nosey!

    I think cats come back on their own once they need food/shelter/etc. Well I hope so.


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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    What makes you think he ran away and wasn't stolen/hurt/got lost?


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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Well, he was old. When my cat was 18 (and he was having kidney problems) he begged to be let out and I never saw him again. Cats are not like dogs where they like to be coddled all the time. My cat left to die on his own...maybe this is what happened to your kitty.

    Doesn't make it easier.

    But, of course, my cat used to also take off for weeks at a time and just come strolling back to the house all royal like and wondering WTF I was mad about (because I'd spent 2 weeks freaking out).

    Cats.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Cats are very very finicky about passing away alone.


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    Featured Member dangerousdiva's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I've had an old cat go away and die on it's own. RIP October

    I've also had a tom cat that disappeared for two weeks and came back neutered with his tail amputated

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    ^ ahahaha wtf?


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    Veteran Member JDanielle's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I have some indoor cats that have gotten out a few times. Sometimes it takes them two or three days, but they always made it back. I would say that if a cat has lived in a place for more than a few weeks, even if they've never been outside, that they can find their way back to it.

    Also, when he found himself outside, he might have just gotten scared and tried to find somewhere to hide since he wasn't used to it. You seem like you took good care of him so it wasn't anything like that.

    No one can say for sure, and I definitely hope for the best, but if he was that old and has been gone for that long...I'm sorry. It sounds like he's had a good life so far. I can't imagine how hard it would be to not know what happened to a cat that had been with me for so long.

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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Strange, but my oldest cat (approx 13-14) never really was into going outside, except occasionally on the porch, but in the past 6-7months, he races me to the door and BEGS to go out, sometimes he'll run right past me and out the door, mostly to "make love to the air" it seems, where he lays in the grass and writhes around reaching his paws out to the air. It's very strange and he's never ever done that until recently. But now it's all the time.






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    Featured Member dangerousdiva's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lysondra View Post
    ^ ahahaha wtf?
    Seriously, I cried and mourned! He had been really beat up form tom catting and we were about to take him to the vet. We think he wandered off and and some nice stranger adopted him and got him fixed up and then he felt better and came home

    He was a great cat, Figaro. Or Figgy for short.

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    Featured Member iambonbon05's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Cats get scared when they don't feel well and go off to hide, and end up dying alone. I'm guessing that was the case since your cat is pretty old Sorry.

    dd I've had a cat come home with his tail gone too although not amputated by surgery, managed to get it caught in something I guess.
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Awwww, I really hope he comes home. I'm sorry

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    *sigh*

    he really didn't seem sick at all. i suppose he could have been taken hom by some other people. i just want answers.

    *sighs again*

    to those of you whose cats came back, how long were they gone for?
    Last edited by mina loy; 05-30-2008 at 03:40 PM. Reason: add-on
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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I totally forgot to give my whole reply earlier ...

    not that I want to give you false hope, b/c you just never know in these situations ... my parents cat left for about a week and a half. He ended up over a mile away at my brother's friend's house (in their yard). Our only theory is that maybe he followed my brother's scent there??? I mean, it was like 2-3 subdivisions away, with no straight path there, it was so strange and random. The cat had definitely never been there before.






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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I think any animal, cat or dog, is naturally curious and just exploring the outdoors....I don't think they are intentionally like, "Dude thank heavens I'm out of the that dump!!" You know what I mean? They just get to exploring which is in their nature, after all.

    I *really* hope he comes back. Animals are weird and don't get lost like people do. He may just be off for a jaunt, I know of many cats that have left and returned.
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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    ^i've considered this possiblity too. he really, really wanted to go outside. i imagine him jumping over the fence of the backyard with george michael's "freedom" song playing in his head.

    send your positive thoughts to me. thank you.
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    Veteran Member SweetMelissa's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Ohhh, I hope yours comes back.

    One of my cats left home and didn't come back until probably a week later. I was crying in bed that night when all of a sudden I heard a cat meowing out front and sure enough it was my baby staring up at me. *tear* We all joked that he went to stay at his girlfriend's house. He was such a pimp back then.

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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I had this bad ass cat once who when we moved found his way back home 2 weeks later across highways and tons of roads, like 20 min away by car. Go give a picture to the people in your old house just in case, thats how we found my cat.

    He would leave for weeks on end and come back fine. He was a giant though, so no animals really messed with him and he caught birds and lizards like no one business.

    He lived to be like 18 I think and went off to die. It broke my heart, but I'd actually rather that then finding him dead on my couch, that would have REALLY been traumatizing.

    Hopefully he's just having a romp around the 'hood, but with him being so old...it is more likly he went off to pass away. My cat never showed signs either, they just know when it's their time.

  19. #19
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Quote Originally Posted by dangerousdiva View Post
    Seriously, I cried and mourned! He had been really beat up form tom catting and we were about to take him to the vet. We think he wandered off and and some nice stranger adopted him and got him fixed up and then he felt better and came home

    He was a great cat, Figaro. Or Figgy for short.
    My mom used to take neighborhood cats and get them fixed and send them back outside. She did all she could to prevent more babies being born. Shes always been adament about animal population control... Shes probably had over 100 cats fixed over the years.

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    God/dess CKXXX's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Quote Originally Posted by AudreyLeigh View Post
    My mom used to take neighborhood cats and get them fixed and send them back outside. She did all she could to prevent more babies being born. Shes always been adament about animal population control... Shes probably had over 100 cats fixed over the years.
    Wow...good for her!! I like your mom!!

  21. #21
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Quote Originally Posted by CKXXX View Post
    Wow...good for her!! I like your mom!!
    I like her too

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    Veteran Member Gabrielle MB's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    I had a cat that would binge and then vomit. I took him to the vet and it turnrd out he was diabetic. I had to give him baby asprin and insulin shots twice a day for five or six months before he got extremely ill and we choose to put him to sleep. Maybe you're kitty was ill, too.
    On the other hand, my kitty now is an inside/outside guy. When we move, we keep him indoors for several days so he can 'know' his place. After his initial house arrest he always takes off for a few days. Then it's back to normal revolving door all day.
    Did your kitty have a collar? Maybe someone thought he was lost or a stray and adopted him.
    Good luck to you. Everything happens for a reason. Have faith that you're kitty is alright.

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    i had a dream where he was alive after coming back from some VIP place for cats. he came back all fat in the dream and i asked him, "nosey--why did you get so fat?". he replied that he had been in some fancy cat place, just for some fun. the place had the initials VIV, which i interpreted to mean "vivir" ("to live" in spanish). i've concluded that nosey is alive somehow.

    i did get a call from a neighbor yesterday who thought she found my cat but it wasn't him. at least the posters are working. i also went to the shelter and met a woman who told me not to give up--she found her lost cat after 4 months.
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    Featured Member Corey's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    Mina-

    Does your cat have a micro chip and/or a tag with your number on it and the city you live in?

    I'm asking because my Pantera has been missing for almost 24 hours. I know it's not long. But he is young, (3 years), healthy, (we took him to the vet last Feb. for shots and a general physical), and very happy and friendly. He has my number on his collar, and he has been chipped, so he has his chip # on his collar too. He is relatively big and in great shape.

    The thing is: he is NOT a scardy cat. He is extremely friendly and manipulative when it comes to getting food. He will walk into anyone's apartment. He loves riding in cars for hours and will roam around.

    He always comes home. My man has been consulting from home for his job, so he leaves the door open so Pantera can come in and out.

    He has been in super hunting mode lately. He has killed two rodents in the last week and keeps trying to bring them in the house.

    Mina-

    I'm sorry for the thread jack. But if he has a tag or a chip, this might help. My man is so torn up. He didn't sleep last night and woke up this morning around 6 to post an ad on craigslist for our Panther. He also went to two local shelters and he wasn't there.

    Good luck to you. My heart goes out to you, really. And I hope my Panther comes home. I think he is what holds my relationship w/ me and my man together.

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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: why do cats run away?

    ^what a beautiful kitty!

    yes, nosey is chipped but it's a different address from the one i used to live at. i need to call the vet to see if i can get his chip information updated. it's too bad that chips don't track pets to see where they are...nosey would be home in a flash.

    no, you aren't threadjacking at all. it's fine to share the grief of having a lost pet...
    my thoughts and heart go/es out to you.
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